Martin McKeefery (front) and Paulie Harraka at track at All American Speedway
during NASCAR West Series practice. Photo: Denny Strimple / NorthFork Photo

September 28, 2009 Blakesley Sports Media

Top-ten finish for McKeefery in NASCAR Camping World Series at Roseville

Milpitas, Calif. – Martin McKeefery piloted the Trinity Racing Concepts Chevrolet for Dick Midgley Racing to a tenth place finish in the “Toyota/Copart 150” in the NASCAR Camping World Series West at All American Speedway in Roseville, Calif. on Saturday night.

Before a sold out crowd of nearly 5,000 fans, the 22 year-old driver made the most of his second career series start, and first race of the entire 2009 season.

McKeefery started out the afternoon running ninth quickest in practice. His testing on the Trinity Racing Concepts simulators in the days leading up to the race helped him knock off of the rust inside his Camping World Series car.

After continuing to fight tightness, McKeefery qualified 13th for the 150 lap race on the one-third mile asphalt oval.

“It was pretty tight all day so I dialed a lot of rear brake into it,” McKeefery said. “I had to stab the brakes in the center of the corner to help it rotate.”

During the race, McKeefery navigated several accidents to move forward by lap 60 into eighth position. McKeefery made repeated attempts to pass Jim Inglebright for seventh but couldn’t complete the pass.

An 86 lap green flag run from lap 22 to 108 proved to be a challenge for the set up on the car.

“We were not expecting that long of a run here,” McKeefery said. “I lost grip all the way around and the car was just a handful. The right side air pressures were very high at the end of that run.”

McKeefery restarted ninth but was shuffled back in traffic while pinned on the outside. He hung on through another restart on lap 116 and raced Inglebright all the way to the finish.

The tenth place finish was an improvement of one position over his 2008 finish. McKeefery ran as high as fifth in his series debut before a late race spin. McKeefery avoided that kind of trouble in the 2009 edition of the race.

“I’m very happy with the result,” McKeefery said. “We improved over last year and kept the car in one piece. The sponsors we brought to the track experienced what it’s like in a way that TV can’t capture and this race was definitely a good investment into our 2010 plans.”

Trinity Racing Concepts provides simulators and management services for shows and promotional events, and builds full car custom simulators. Driver training on their 3D simulator, located in San Jose, CA, will take amateur or professional racers to the next step in performance at a fraction of the cost of on-track schooling. Learn more at Trinity-Racing.com.

McKeefery was proud to be racing in support of the Salvation Army. Last month, the Roseville chapter provided 400 food boxes to those affected by the down turn in the economy compared to 70 boxes a year ago in August 2008.

“I am happy to support an organization that helps so many families in local communities,” McKeefery said.

Stay tuned for more information on the 2010 sponsorship and season plans for Martin McKeefery.

I arrived in Roseville this afternoon to decal up the car and to adjust the race seat in the car. All feels really good and comfortable. The car looks great with Trinity Racing Concepts on the hood and iRacing on the two rear quarter panels.

We used some garage space at Mike Naake’s shop. Dick Midgley changed the steering box from a 12:1 ration to 8:1 ration. On a short track like All American Speedway I wanted a more sensitve wheel for the sharp corners. I feel very confindent in the car Dick has prepared for me.

I can’t wait to go burn up some rubber out on the track! I haven’t gone through enough tires this year..

Milpitas, Calif. – 22 year-old Martin McKeefery will return to the NASCAR Camping World Series, driving the #09 Chevrolet for Dick Midgley at All American Speedway in Roseville, Calif. in the “Copart 150”.

McKeefery made his series debut at the speedway last September, earning a finish of 11th place after running as high as fifth.

The former Supermodified and Legends champion came into last season’s event with no stockcar experience. His primary engine broke in the pits, and the team missed the entire practice session replacing it.

Despite zero laps on the car, McKeefery qualified 20th, and quickly navigated through the field to fifth place. A spin on the final lap gave McKeefery an 11th place finish in his stockcar debut.

For the 2009 edition of this race, the expectations are much greater. McKeefery will be driving a new car with a one race old spec engine under the hood.

“There’s quite a bit more pressure this time around with a podium quality car,” McKeefery said. “Dick has been working really hard building a top notch racecar.”

McKeefery has taken advantage of the downtime this season due to sponsorship woes to work for Trinity Racing, developing racing simulators based on the new simulation program iRacing.

“I started filling my life with other projects while we looked for sponsorship,” McKeefery said. “I’ve been getting some seat time in the Late Model simulator and this race is definitely an investment towards our 2010 goals.”

Trinity Racing Concept will have two high performance racing simulators on the midway for race fans and drivers to test drive. Jack Ulstad, owner of TRC is welcoming race drivers and fans to compete for quick time and bragging rights!

McKeefery will also be racing in support of the Salvation Army. The Salvation Army operates in 118 countries and provides services in 175 different languages. It is one of the world’s largest providers of social aid, helping more than 32 million people in the US alone. Services include emergency disaster support, family services, rehabilitation and recovery.

Racing for the “Toyota Copart 150 presented by Golden State Steel and Stair” will commence on Saturday September 26 at 8 p.m. Time trails will take place at 5 p.m. For more information on the race event, visit www.billmcanallyracing.

Milpitas, Calif. – Martin McKeefery, the 21 year-old standout from Milpitas, Calif., made the most of his NASCAR Camping World Series West debut, finishing 11th on Saturday in Roseville, Calif. He ran as high as fifth in the Toyota / NAPA Autocare 150 at All American Speedway.

McKeefery, the 2007 Western States Super Modified champion, was making his first career start in the Milpitas Health & Fitness Chevrolet for Dick Midgley Racing.

When firing up for the first practice, the team discovered engine trouble and made an emergency engine change. With zero laps of practice, McKeefery timed in just half a second off of pole position, and raced forward from 20th on the grid.

“I was pretty stoked after qualifying,” McKeefery said. “I gave the crew a speech after the race thanking them. They put in a lot of hours and I felt confident in their work. They were thrilled to have made the change and run this well.”

McKeefery navigated traffic like a veteran in race conditions, handling the nuances of competing on the series smallest track. He also adapted quickly to the challenging double-file restarts with the 650 horsepower, 3400 pound cars.

McKeefery described the restarts as being very similar to those in his Legends days.

By lap 46 he had moved up to 15th on the track. Using the help from his spotter Reinie Naeb, he narrowly avoided a multi-car crash on lap 52.

McKeefery kept digging forward, moving up to 11th by lap 79 to join a six car battle for seventh.

With 25 laps to go McKeefery suddenly found himself sixth after great racing and perseverance.

“I looked at the scoreboard and it said the 88 was in fifth,” McKeefery said. “I then realized he was right in front of me on the track.”

A green-white-checkered finish was slated to wrap up the 150 lap race, and McKeefery launched forward and into the fifth position before contact from another racer sent him spinning on the final lap.

He was officially scored as the first car down a lap, in a very outstanding 11th place finish.

“I have never moved my arms to turn a steering wheel that much in a race before,” McKeefery said, describing the intensity of the race. “The car wasn’t great, because we didn’t get to practice. I think with the setup right I could repeat this run.”

McKeefery will now set his sights on the 2009 NASCAR Camping World Series West campaign, with more news to be announced soon.

Milpitas, Calif. – 21 year-old Martin McKeefery of Milpitas, Calif. will compete in the season finale for the NASCAR Camping World Series West, Saturday night at All American Speedway in Roseville, Calif.

McKeefery, a world championship driver in Legends cars, will pilot the Milpitas Health & Fitness Chevrolet for Dick Midgley Racing. McKeefery previously attempted to qualify for the event at Altamont Raceway Park on September 13 but failed to qualify.

The Toyota/Napa Auto Care 150, presented by Thunder Valley Casino, will mark McKeefery’s first start in the prestigious NASCAR series. The rising star of racing was the 2007 champion of the prestigious Western States Super Modifieds.

“In a super modified the front bumper was about one foot wide,” McKeefery said in comparing a stock car to his super modified. “This race is going to be about saving the tires and keeping the body intact for the end.”

McKeefery turned about 80 laps in a testing session last Thursday. His lap times were good enough to put him 10th or 11th in the field based on the times set at the March event at Roseville.

“I feel really good about my lap times,” McKeefery said. “The car felt in control and I was comfortable. We had an in-car camera for the test and found areas to improve the setup for the race.”

Roseville is a uniquely-shaped one-third mile oval, where all four turns are different.

“Every turn has a challenge, and it’s a lot of fun for the driver,” McKeefery said. “My road course skills will definitely benefit me. Braking hard into turn one is the most challenging part of the track.”

Haulers begin arriving Friday evening, with a pair of practice sessions on Saturday afternoon. Qualifying will take place around 5 p.m. with the race slated to being just after 8 p.m. A sell-out crowd of over 4000 fans is expected to be in attendance.

Milpitas, Calif. – Martin McKeefery, the 21 year-old racing talent from Milpitas, Calif., took to the NASCAR Camping World Series West September 13 at Altamont Raceway Park. McKeefery attempted to qualify the #09 Milpitas Health & Fitness Chevrolet for the 200 lap feature at Altamont Raceway. McKeefery gained valuable seat time in his first stint in the Dick Midgley-owned stock car.

The talented world champion driver was up against several hurdles. McKeefery has gained most of his experience in Legends and Super Modified cars, which are light-weight and drive drastically different than a NASCAR stock car. “The biggest disadvantage was limited track time,” the 2007 Western Super Modified champion said. “It took a few laps to learn the car and I was thrown out there with guys who had run thousands of laps.” McKeefery was also making his first ever drive at the tricky Altamont half-mile oval. Lastly, McKeefery was competing in one of only two races on the entire schedule in 2008 where the field was large enough to have qualifying as a factor. 33 cars took times for 28 positions.

After only recording approximately 50 laps in practice, and having to end early with battery and alternator problems, McKeefery turned his attention towards qualifying. McKeefery qualified 27th and was only two tenths shy of making the starting grid. Even though Martin was out of the main event, he still, as any good race car driver would, went up to the grandstands to sign hero cards for the fans. “I was thoroughly disappointed and thought we missed our opportunity to shine,” McKeefery said. “But it was still a good learning experience.” “We were really close to making that race,” he said. “It was just everything puttogether that made it difficult.”

Next up for Martin McKeefery is a tentative test-session at All American Speedway in Roseville, Calif. on October 16.

McKeefery hopes to gain more experience in the NASCAR Camping World equipment with an eye on possibly competing in the October 25 event at All American.

In a few hours, my friend Martin McKeefery will be taking the wheel of the #09 car as he makes his debut in the NASCAR Camping World series. I have enjoyed watching Martin progressing on the road to his dream of becoming a pro-racer for the last 3 years; starting with Legends, then SuperModifieds and now NASCAR with incredible determination. If you enjoy motorsports; watch for Martin as he is definitely a “rising star”.

If you can’t join us at the Altamont Raceway in Tracy, CA; follow MartinMcKeefery on twitter as he tweets about his NASCAR debut throughout the day.

When Martin McKeefery straps into his supermodified race car, his mind will be on one thing — performance.

A resident of Milpitas, Calif., 20-year-old McKeefery is the 2007 champion of the ASA/WSSRL supermodified series. In just his second season of his supermodified career, Martin won the championship following his 2006 Rookie of the Year honors.

The league, now called Supermodifed Racing Association, SMRA, starts its season April 5th at Madera Speedway in Madera, Calf. The series will also travel to Oregon, Utah and Idaho.

McKeefery’s biggest challenge this winter was to repair the car. A broken rear axle sent him into the wall at 140 mph while racing in the first East West Shootout in Concord, NC last November while running third in the main event. An accident of that magnitude can do a lot of damage, luckily Martin was not injured. McKeefery has rebuilt the green Riddler #27 from the frame up. “I have worked many long hours on this car to get to a level I consider raceable, I feel the car has never been as stoutly built as it is now”.

“I’ve done most of the repairs myself. I am fortunate that several businesses in Milpitas were able to help me with the sheet metal and painting.” McKeefery looks to perform better than ever at the first race and feels confident he has prepared the car to his satisfaction. “I just can’t wait to “fire-off” for the 2008 season!”

In the off season, McKeefery attended Toastmasters meetings to develop his public speaking, and classes at Ohlone Jr. College in Fremont where he is scheduled to graduate in June.

When asked if he feels some pressure on him now that he’s won a championship, he said “The pressure is on the car for this first race. I won’t feel comfortable until I take my first practice and I’m up to speed. I have a great crew lined up for this race and I won’t have to worry about setup.”

McKeefery plans to use this season to learn a bit more from the supermodified. “The super is an amazing race machine with so much to learn. I know there are still a few more lessons for me. My next goal is to race in the NASCAR Camping World development series and that’s where I’ll be putting my energy.”